Flexibility, it is that simple. If you pose a project to EA, you will make it exactly as you proposed.
I think back to Maxis and Sim City, when then was swept away by Cities Skylines. That Sim CIty still had more depth than cities skylines had on release, but SC was bunged by always online requirements, and a feeling that multiplayer nerfed the games map size. CITIES Skylines had neither.
But developers said, that is what they pitched to EA. An online mixed experience of constant progression of other players around you. And when they figured out they COULDN'T do that without seriously cutting the map size, and forcing always on, EA wouldn't let them budge, even if it meant releasing a bad game.
I doubt EA policy has changed much since then. And it either leads to over cancelling projects, instead of re-working them, or releasing a bad product.
It also forces stifled creativity. Studios dont want to risk a lofty project (Pandemic (RIP my kings) and the batman game) where they realised they just couldnt do it with the scope they wanted to, so got shut down for failing to meet a loft ambition.
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u/jkman61494 8h ago edited 8h ago
So I'm not a gamer expert.
But how was Larian able to procure and publish Baldur's Gate 3?
Is there any chance a smaller studio could get rights to Mass Effect to make it?
I'm guessing the answer is no, but I always found it weird BG3 was able to be produced. Was that a special deal with Hasbro?